Introduction
    
The theoretical research at the Institute of Physics of Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) dates back to 1958. In September of that year, discipline direction of Solid State Theory started up; In June of following year, Solid State Theory laboratory was established. Its director was Mr. Li YinYuan, its members included Zhu YanQing, Chen ShiGang, Huo YuPing, Zhang QiXiang, Xu ZhengYi, Pan ShaoHua, Liu DaQian, Leng ZhongAng and so on. In early 1960s, Chen ChunXian, Yu Lu, Hao BaiLin, etc. had finished their studies abroad and returned to China, together with many domestic university graduates, they joined this workforce and made Solid State Theory laboratory grow rapidly. Prior to the Cultural Revolution, it grew to five research groups, more than 30 researchers, research interests include semiconductors, metals, magnetism, superconductivity, laser physics in the theoretical and multi-body theory, statistical physics. These scientific predecessors were like-minded, they organized productive and interactive learning activities. Although the laboratory soon ran into a difficult time of 1960-1962, and even was ordered to lay off a few researchers, but still grew stronger. Everybody was spirited, academic atmosphere was very good, we had 3 or 4 academic lectures every week. A wide range of topics were discussed, the thoughts were liberated, the ideas were bold, difficult problems were challenged. From the many-body form theory, including the Green's function method, the process of transport theory, to their specific applications in condensed matter physics, involving superconductivity, ferromagnetic phenomena, and resonance relaxation processes. We learnt from each other, teached each other, as the laboratory grew to a domestic leading position. During this period, many talents emerged, and several of them were later elected as members of Chinese Academy of Sciences due to their outstanding contributions.

During the same period, there's one research group in CAS magnetism laboratory which is specialized in theoretical research. This magnetic theory group was started up by Mr. Pu FuKe in 1960. Its member included Zheng QingQi, Shen JueLian, Yan QiWei, Cai JunDao, Lai WuYan, their works were also very active, mainly in researching the spin-field configuration, magnetic properties of rare-earth, and magnetic phase transition. In the research of ferromagnetic resonance relaxation and linewidth, this group cooperated with Meng XianZhen from magnetism laboratory, and Huo YuPing from theory laboratory, made outstanding achievements. In summer of 1966, the Cultural Revolution began, the theoretical research work has been disrupted a lot. During 1968-1969, Solid State Theory laboratory and magnetism laboratory theoretical research group were forced to disintegrate, members were dispersed to other laboratories. But even in that period of catastrophe, these members were still able to do some meaningful researches in their respective subject areas, thanks to the understanding of other laboratories colleagues. For example, Mr. Li YinYuan lead lithium iodate research in crystal laboratory; Pu FuKe, Hao BaiLin, Feng KeAn, Cai JunDao worked on small antenna theory and calculations; Other dispersed members like Yang GuoZhen, Huo YuPing, Gu BenYuan who went to laser laboratory, they all achieved very good results.After 1972, fundamental research regained attention again, theoretical physics was no longer labeled as 'unrealistic'. Former members of theoretical laboratory and magnetism laboratory theoretical research group, re-grouped together again, re-established theory and computer research group, comprising Pu FuKe, Hao BaiLin, Yu Lu, Shen JueLian, Wang DingSheng, Cai JunDao, Feng KeAn, Dong FuMin, Chu KeHong, Jin YingShu, Bi KeXi, Liu XiuYing, etc.

Do the main work of this period are: critical phenomena, renormalization group theory, phase transitions in the statistical model, the magnetic spin-wave excitation and seismic activity statistical analysis and prediction. In theory the same time, actively introduce computer, start building a computational physics research. Especially in the phase transitions and critical phenomena in research, in the latter part of the Cultural Revolution on the eve of reform and opening up soon, to promote international exchange and opening up a very good role to play. 1975 American Physical Society organized a high-level delegation to visit China, comprising Bardeen, Schrieffer, Bloom, Berger and other Nobel Prize winners, they are the work of a good evaluation. Also in this period, living far from crystal lab Li Yin, Xu Zhengyi, Li Tiecheng and Yang Shunhua, etc., in the laser laboratory of Yang Guozhen, Huo Yuping, origin and Pan Shaohua Gu, etc., in the first and plasma laboratory Chun Shi Dong, Cai and the relativity study group (Zhang Yuanzhong, Wu Yong and during the Cultural Revolution, when the outside from the physical into the Dai Y B., Guo Hanying, etc.), are actively engaged in theoretical physics from active research, but also achieved good results. But in the turbulent Cultural Revolution decade, the physics of the research team's theory is indeed large changes, some people have left for various reasons of Physics, such as Yang Shunhua, Zheng Qingqi, Yan Qiwei, Zhu Yan Qing and so on.

To the end of the Cultural Revolution turmoil, especially in 1978, the Central Science Conference was held after the research was being really seriously. Academy of Sciences in Beijing, the new theory of Physics, Hao Bailin, etc. have to participate; Plasma Physics in Hefei, the newly built, with Huo Yuping, etc. to attend. In Physics, though it was not yet in the reconstruction of Theoretical Research on the agenda, but the enthusiasm in the theory, the scale and level have a significant recovery and development. In the next 1980 years before and after the reform and opening up, many people have to study abroad, such as Li Tiecheng, Wang Dingsheng, etc., access to new research directions; some people returned from abroad, joined the theoretical physics of the research team, such as Jiaming, Lin Lei , Zhang Zhaoqing, etc.; there after the Cultural Revolution, the new training the younger generation, such as Yu-Peng Wang and Liu Banggui etc., to create the conditions for growing. By the 1990s China's scientific management system and physical adjustment of the general scientific organization formed and re-established theory Research on the issue put on the agenda. Academy of Sciences Knowledge Innovation Project start making the re-established theory in Physics Research requirements become very urgent. After careful deliberation, in July 2001, Condensed Matter Theory and Materials Computation Laboratory was established over 30 years dissolved the chamber to be re-established theory. This is a historic moment worth remembering. Starting this year, the pace of development theory room is amazing. From the initial group of two, four researchers (Wang Yupeng, Wang Dingsheng, Liu Banggui, Li Bozang), the team expanded. Especially in the CAS knowledge innovation pilot project base has been the spirit of "openness, mobility, competition, joint" founder principle, and actively carry out international exchange of the Centre for Theoretical Physics, has attracted many of the best talent to the theoretical physics group, beyond previous efforts to create a generation of outstanding young talent in theoretical physics research team. Early 2011, has 23 rooms theory researchers and 74 students in reading, including in Yu Lu, Wang Dingsheng two academicians. Tao, director of the researcher. Six Hundred Talents Program of CAS researcher elected (Xiang Tao, Fang Zhong, Sun Qingfeng, Chen Shu, Dai xi, Fan truss, week end land); five researchers receive National Outstanding Youth Foundation (Wang YuPeng , Liu WuMing, Fang Zhong, Sun Qingfeng and Xiang Tao).